GRIFTON — The 43rd annual Shad Festival is honoring station No. 43’s Grifton Volunteer Fire Department and Grifton EMS. The Grifton Fire Department will hold an extrication demonstration at 3 p.m. at the Town Common — removing a person trapped in a vehicle.

The festival will kick off at 4 p.m. Friday with about double the rides there was last year.

At 7 p.m., festival-goers can play bingo at the depot or listen to Music under the Stars, featuring The Shake Doctors at the Town Common. The concert ends at 11 a.m.

Saturday and Sunday’s events will be held at the Town Common, Grifton Civic Center, Health Assist building and creekside Overlook Park near the boat landing.

Events on Saturday start as early as 8:30 a.m., when the Grifton Library’s book sale begins. Other events, including rides, flea market, craft show and art show, take place Saturday.

The Shad Festival Parade will start at 10:30 a.m., with the introduction of VIPs beginning at 10:20 a.m. The trophy presentation will be held at 11:30 a.m. at the Town Common.

The parade may be delayed by about 30 minutes if it rains, Graham said.

“We don’t think it’s going to stop anything,” she said about the rain. “I think its going to be good to go.”

Live music and other entertainment will follow through the afternoon, including a new feature, the Tar River Community Band, an orchestra which will play at noon on the stage.

Flaming baton twirlers, children performing martial arts and African drummers will be held on the stage, as well.

The Shad Festival wouldn’t be complete without fried fish and fish stew, available for sale from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Eastern N.C. barbecue will be sold from 2 p.m. on and hot dogs will be available all day.

Children’s activities and games will happen from noon to 5 p.m., and Purple the Clown will entertain from 3-5 p.m.

Saturday’s concert and street dance will feature The Four Knights from 7-11 p.m.

Sunday’s event runs from noon to 6 p.m. There will be children’s activities, salsa music, dancing and dance lessons and a Mexican dance performance.

The Grifton Museum will feature “The Tuscarora War: The Forgotten Tragedy,” a film by Gene Smith of Snow Hill at 2:30 p.m.

Bring a kayak or canoe and take a day trip on the Contentnea Creek from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

“It seems like a family reunion,” Grifton Mayor B.R. Jackson said. “When you come to the Shad Festival, it’s like coming home.”

Margaret Fisher can be reached at 252-559-1082 or Margaret.Fisher@Kinston.com. Follow her on Twitter @MargaretFishr.